Dual-sided smart card reader

ABSTRACT

A dual-sided smart card reader, and method for operating the same, is disclosed. The dual-sided smart card reader permits the simultaneous insertion of at least two different smart cards from opposing sides. The dual-sided smart card reader may additionally include a biometric verification device, such as a fingerprint scanner, for comparing biometric information from an operator of the reader to biometric information stored on a smart card. Also, the dual-sided smart card reader may additionally include a pulse monitor, such as a sensor, to detect a pulse of an operator of the reader.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation in part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. ______ filed Dec. 10, 2004 and claims priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/532,393, filed Dec. 24, 2003,the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to smart card readers, and in particularto a dual-sided smart card readers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Smart card readers have been known for some time. However, conventionalsmart card readers do not provide the ability to independently verifythe identity of a smart card holder. Additionally, conventional smartcard readers do not permit dual-sided operation, such that at least two(2) smart cards may be inserted into a single card readersimultaneously. Finally, conventional smart card readers do not providethe ability to visually display information regarding data stored on asmart card.

Thus, there is presently a need for a smart card reader system whichpermits user identification, and which allows insertion of multiplesmart cards simultaneously. There is also presently a need for a smartcard reader system which permits the visual display of information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a smart cardreader including a first input port disposed on a first side of thereader, and a second input port disposed on a second opposing side ofthe reader.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a smartcard system including at least two smart cards, and a dual-sided smartcard reader including a first input port disposed on a first side of thesmart card reader, and a second input port disposed on a second opposingside of the smart card reader.

An additional exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises amethod for facilitating secure transactions including the steps of:inserting a first smart card into a first slot of a dual-sided smartcard reader, inserting a second smart card into a second slot of thedual-sided smart card reader, said second slot disposed on an opposingside of the smart card reader, determining if a holder of the firstsmart card is authorized to access information on the second smart card,and permitting the holder of the first smart card to access informationstored on the second smart card.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a smart cardreader including a first input port disposed on a first side of thereader for receiving a first smart card, a second input port disposed ona second opposing side of the reader for receiving a second smart card,and at least one biometric device for obtaining a biometric sampleand/or at least one pulse sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a dual-sided smart card reader according to afirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the dual-sided smart card reader of FIG. 1 with smart cardsinserted therein.

FIG. 3 shows the dual-sided smart card reader of FIG. 1 with usersproviding fingerprint samples.

FIG. 4 shows a dual-sided smart card reader according to a secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the dual-sided smart card reader of FIG. 4 displayingconfidential information.

FIG. 6 shows the dual-sided smart card reader of FIG. 1 additionallyincluding a vein scanner.

FIG. 7 shows the dual-sided smart card reader of FIG. 1 additionallyincluding a hand geometry scanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the present inventioncomprising a dual-sided smart card reader 100 which permits theinsertion of smart cards from either, or both sides thereof. Thedual-sided smart card reader 100 may also include fingerprint pads 120,121 on either, or both, sides thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, the dual-sided smart card reader 100 includes firstand second insertion ports 101, 102 for the insertion of first andsecond smart cards 150, 160. Once the smart cards 150, 160 are insertedinto the reader 100, the fingerprint pads 120, 121 may be utilized toprovide independent verification of the identity of the person carryingthe card.

In operation, smart card holders insert their respective smart cards150, 160 into the respective insertion ports 101, 102 of the smart cardreader 100. In addition to providing the smart cards 150, 160, a usermay additionally provide some type of biometric information (e.g., afingerprint sample) which may be used to verify the identity of theuser. As shown in FIG. 3, one method of user verification may beaccomplished by having the respective users of the smart cards 150, 160place their finger or thumb on the fingerprint pads 120, 121. Thefingerprint pads 120, 121 accept the fingerprint sample andelectronically compare the sample to the fingerprint data stored on theuser's smart card. If the fingerprint data matches, the user is verifiedand may continue with transactions using the card reader 100. However,if the fingerprint data does not match, the user is prohibited fromusing the card reader 100 further. In addition, a mechanism adapted forreading a person's pulse, such as a pulse sensor, may also beincorporated to detect and monitor the pulse of a user, to verify thatthe user providing biometric information is “living”. In other words,the lack of a pulse is an indication that the authorized user may bedead, and an unauthorized person may be attempting to use the cardreader 100, such as by placing a severed finger of the authorized useron the fingerprint pads 120 and/or 121. If there is no pulse detected,the user preferably is prohibited from using the card reader 100further, even though there may have been a biometric match. A pulsesensor may be used in connection with just one or both of the biometricsensors. In the present embodiment, a pulse sensor may be incorporatedwith each of the fingerprint pads 120, 121. In this manner, thefingerprint pads 120 and 121 operate to both read the fingerprint sampleof the user as well as monitor the user's pulse. Further, the pulsesensor may also operate to detect any unusual pulse reads from a user,such as any irregular, fast or slow pulse rates, which may be anindication that the user may be in a distressed state, for instance, asa result of being forced by an unauthorized person to use the cardreader 100. Similar to where there is no pulse detected, the user can beprohibited from using the smart card reader 100 further where anyunusual pulse reads are detected.

In a second exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a dual-sided smartcard reader 200 may include a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), or othersimilar display, for displaying information to either, or both, of theusers of the card reader. For example, the dual-sided smart card reader200 may include a display screen 270 which may be viewable by one useronly, thereby limiting access to information in an information sensitiveenvironment (e.g., medical record access; police access, etc.).

As with the smart card reader 100 described above, the smart card reader200 includes insertion ports 201, 202 for receiving smart cards 250,260. The smart card reader 200 also includes a keypad 275 for navigatingthrough the menus and information on the display screen 270. In theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the smart card reader 200 does notinclude fingerprint pads, but those of ordinary skill in the art willrealize that fingerprint pads (220, 221) may be optionally provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the display screen 270 may provide sensitiveinformation to a first user whose card is inserted in the firstinsertion port 201 (e.g., police officer) about a second user who hashis or her smart card inserted in the second insertion port 202. Forexample, the display screen 270 may provide information on the seconduser's driving and/or criminal record.

The above-described dual-sided smart card readers 100, 200 may becoupled to a personal or other computer via a Universal Serial Bus (USB)port, a FireWire™ port, a wireless transmitter, or other equivalentmeans disposed in, or operatively coupled, to the card reader.

Additionally, the dual-sided smart card readers 100, 200 described abovemay be configured to operate on battery power, or may include means forpowering the card reader from a standard electrical outlet. Thedual-sided smart card readers 100, 200 may also include either aninternal or external power source.

As an alternative to, or in addition to, the fingerprint pads 120, 121(220, 221) discussed above, a dual-sided smart card reader 300 mayinclude vein scanners 380, 381 disposed therein, or operatively coupledthereto, as shown in FIG. 6. Vein scanners may scan the pattern of veinson the back of the human hand to provide authentication, similar to afingerprint scan. Vein scanners may be often preferred over fingerprintscanners at times because the person being scanned does not need todirectly contact the unit in order to be scanned. The person beingscanned merely holds their hand in close proximity to the vein scannerto be scanned (similar to scanning a bar code with an infrared bar codescanner).

As an alternative to, or in addition to, the fingerprint pads 120, 121(220, 221) and vein scanners 380, 381 discussed above, a dual-sidedsmart card reader 400 may include hand geometry scanners 490, 491disposed therein, or operatively coupled thereto, as shown in FIG. 7.Hand geometry scanners may scan (e.g., photograph) the three-dimensionalshape of the human hand to provide authentication. Hand geometryscanners may be preferred over fingerprint scanners at times because theperson being scanned does not need to directly contact the unit in orderto be scanned. The person being scanned merely holds their hand in closeproximity to the hand geometry scanner to be scanned.

Some hand geometry scanners take over ninety (90) measurements of thelength, width, thickness and surface area of the hand and four fingers.The technology can use a thirty-two thousand (32,000) pixel ChargeCoupled Device (CCD) digital camera to record the hand'sthree-dimensional shape from silhouetted images projected within thescanner. The scanner disregards surface details, such as fingerprints,lines, scars, dirt, as well as fingernails. Because the scanner uses theunique shape of the user's hand to verify identity, it can be used inmachine shops, factories, manufacturing plants, and almost anyindustrial environment where fingerprint scanners would not be ideal.When a person uses the scanner, the scanner compares the shape of theuser's hand to a template recorded during an enrollment session. If thetemplate and the scanned hand match, identity is verified.

The above-described smart cards 150, 160 (250, 260) preferably containmultiple types of information associated with the user of the smartcard. For example, the smart cards 150, 160 (250, 260) may each includetwo (2) distinct memory areas, one for storage of confidentialinformation, and one for storage of biometric data (e.g., fingerprint,retina, hand geometry, etc.) associated with the user. The confidentialinformation memory storage area may be further subdivided into separatememory compartments corresponding to separate types of information,including but not limited to: (1) a health insurance and medical recordcompartment, (2) a homeland security compartment (for storage ofpassport information and travel restrictions), (3) a financial recordscompartment (for storage of bank and credit card accounts), (4) a lawenforcement compartments (for storage of driver's license information,criminal record, etc.), and (5) a personal storage compartment (forstorage of telephone numbers, electronic documents, etc.). Preferably,each smart card reader 100, 200 would restrict access only to the memorycompartment(s) necessary to accomplish certain activities (i.e., apolice smart card reader would not be permitted to access medicalrecords).

In the preferred exemplary embodiments, information stored in theconfidential information memory storage of the smart cards 150, 160 areamay be added, edited or deleted by any authorized smart card reader 100,200. For example, where a smart card reader 100, 200 is used by a doctorand a patient, an authorized doctor may update the patient's medicalrecords stored on the card.

As explained below, the dual-sided smart card readers 100, 200 may beused in various situations, such as for example, facilitating thetransfer of patient medical records between health care providers,reducing or eliminating identity theft, reducing or eliminating fraud infinancial and personal transactions, facilitating compliance with theHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) with regardto patient medical records, and various other environments whereconfidentiality of information must be maintained.

For example, generally under HIPAA: (1) patients are entitled to haveaccess to their medical records and request amendments thereto, (2)healthcare providers must keep audit trails for patient records, (3)healthcare providers must receive patient authorization before releaseof medical information, and (4) healthcare providers must take care thatmedical information is not released for non-health related purposes. Thedual-sided smart card readers 100, 200 described above can assist inaccomplishing all these objectives, by for example, requiring a patientand a healthcare provider to present smart cards (and possibly verifyingbiometric data) before transactions regarding medical records arecompleted.

The dual-sided smart card readers 100, 200 are preferably used in aProvider-Consumer model. For example, before the provision of goodsand/or services, a Provider inserts its card into one side of thedual-sided smart card reader 100, 200, and provides furtheridentification (fingerprint, vein, hand, etc.), if necessary orrequired. The Consumer receiving these goods and/or services similarlyinserts his card into the opposite side of the dual-sided smart cardreader 100, 200 and provides further identification (fingerprint, vein,hand, etc.), if necessary or required. Once both the Provider and theConsumer have been verified, they can deal with each other on a fair andequal plane, without fear that one is acting in a fraudulent manner.

An exemplary situation in which the dual-sided smart card readers 100,200 may be utilized is as follows during a medical office visit. As aprerequisite, patients are issued a smart card by a health care provideror organization (e.g., Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Medicare,etc.) which has the capability to retain medical records and otherinformation (e.g., insurance information). When the patient visits hisor her physician, they present the smart card for insertion into oneside of the dual-sided reader 100, 200. The patient may also be requiredto place a finger (or thumb) on a fingerprint pad on the card reader toprovide further verification. As discussed above, vein and hand geometryscanners may also be utilized to provider authentication.

Similarly, the physician presents his smart card (and fingerprint, veinand/or hand, if necessary) at the opposite side of the card reader 100,200. The card reader 100, 200 verifies the identity of the patient andthe physician and permits the physician to upload medical records fromthe patient's card, or download medical records and/or observations tothe patient's card. For example, the physician may upload observationsof a physical examination to the smart card, upload a log of procedureperformed and results, or download known allergy information. In thismanner, a patient's confidential medical history information may beshared only with authorized physicians, and may be modified only byauthorized physicians. Each upload or download is preferably marked witha date/time stamp, so that a modification ‘trail’ be established. Avisual image may be presented on a display screen 270 coupled to thedual-sided smart card reader 200 to inform either the patient, thephysician, or both, that the authentication has been successful.

If certain examinations or procedures have been performed during anoffice visit (and uploaded to a patient's smart card), such informationmay also be transmitted to the patient's insurance carrier (e.g., HMOfor processing, by either the physician's office or the patient. Theexamination/procedure information stored on the patient's smart card,and possibly sent to the insurance carrier, may compriseEmergency/Medical (E/M) codes, diagnosis codes, fee charged, patient'sname, insurance provider, insurance number, insurance provider numberand other relevant data.

The above-described scenario may also take place between the patient,and a physician's various administrative personnel (e.g., nurses,billing assistants, receptionists, etc.). For example, the patient wouldpresent his smart card (and any physiologic data) at one end of thedual-sided smart card reader 100, 200 as discussed above, and theadministrative user would present their smart card (and any physiologicdata) at the other end of the dual-sided smart card reader. Once thepatient and administrative user have been authenticated, theadministrative user is permitted to access the patient's personalinformation, medical records, billing records, and other information onfile with the physician's office. A visual image may be presented on adisplay screen 270 coupled to the dual-sided smart card reader 200 toinform either the patient, the administrative user, or both, that theauthentication has been successful. As with the patient-physicianexample, each upload or download by the administrative user ispreferably marked with a date/time stamp, so that a modification ‘trail’can be established.

Another exemplary situation in which the dual-sided smart card readers100, 200 may be utilized is as follows in a routine traffic stop by thepolice. As a prerequisite, automobile drivers are issued a driver'slicense in the form of a smart card. The smart card may be adapted toretain a driver's personal information (e.g., name, address, driver'slicense number, etc.) and driving record information (e.g., previousinfractions).

When a driver is pulled over by a police officer for an infraction(e.g., speeding, etc.), the police officer requests the driver's smartcard and inserts the smart card into the dual-sided smart card reader100, 200 (at one end) along with his own identification smart card (atthe opposite end) (See FIGS. 4-5). The police officer may additionallyrequest fingerprint, vein and/or hand geometry data from the driver, asexplained above, to provide further identity verification. The policeofficer may also be required to submit further data such as fingerprint,vein and/or hand geometry data, in order to verify his identity.

Once the police officer has been authorized to view the driver'spersonal and driving data, the data is presented to the police officer,preferably on a display screen 270 which forms a part of the dual-sidedsmart card reader 200, or is operatively coupled thereto (in the case ofthe smart card reader 100). In the manner, the police officer can reviewthe driver's history of infractions, and make an informed decision onthe present infraction, and the possible need for arrest. If the policeofficer decides to issue an infraction notice and summons (i.e.,‘ticket’), the police officer can upload this information directly tothe driver's smart card, thereby maintaining updated information on thedriver's smart card at all times.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendiscussed above utilizing fingerprint scanners, vein scanners and handgeometry scanners, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill inthe art, that various types of biometric data may be utilized to confirmthe identity of a user (e.g., retinal, blood, skin tissue, etc.).

Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplaryembodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claimsshould be construed broadly to include other variants and embodiments ofthe invention which may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.

1. A smart card reader comprising: a first input port disposed on thereader adapted for receiving a first smart card; and a second input portdisposed on the reader adapted for receiving a second smart card.
 2. Thesmart card reader of claim 1, further comprising at least one biometricdevice coupled to the reader.
 3. The smart card reader of claim 2,wherein the at least one biometric device is selected from the groupconsisting of at least one fingerprint pad, at least one veinrecognition device and at least one hand geometry recognition device. 4.The smart card reader of claim 2, further comprising at least one pulsesensor coupled to the reader.
 5. The smart card reader of claim 1,further comprising at least one display screen coupled to the reader. 6.A smart card system comprising: at least two smart cards; and, adual-sided smart card reader including a first input port disposed on afirst side of the smart card reader, and a second input port disposed ona second opposing side of the smart card reader.
 7. A method forfacilitating secure transactions comprising the steps of: inserting afirst smart card into a first slot of a dual-sided smart card reader;inserting a second smart card into a second slot of the dual-sided smartcard reader, said second slot disposed on an opposing side of the smartcard reader; determining if a holder of the first smart card isauthorized to access information on the second smart card; and,permitting the holder of the first smart card to access informationstored on the second smart card.
 8. The method of claim 7, comprisingthe further step of: verifying the identity of the holder of one or bothof the first smart card and the second smart card through a biometriccomparison.
 9. The method of claim 8, comprising the further step of:detecting the pulse of the holder of one or both of the first smart cardand the second smart card.
 10. A smart card reader comprising: a firstinput port disposed on a first side of the reader for receiving a firstsmart card; a second input port disposed on a second opposing side ofthe reader for receiving a second smart card; and, at least onebiometric device for obtaining a biometric sample.
 11. The smart cardreader of claim 10, further comprising a display screen for displayinginformation stored on one of the first or second smart cards.
 12. Thesmart card reader of claim 10, further comprising at least one pulsesensor.
 13. The smart card reader of claim 12, wherein the at least onebiometric device comprises a fingerprint scanner.
 14. The smart cardreader of claim 13, wherein said fingerprint scanner operates to obtaina fingerprint sample from the holder of the first smart card, andcompare said fingerprint sample to fingerprint data stored on the firstsmart card, and wherein the at least one pulse sensor operates tomonitor the pulse of the holder of the first smart card, and detect atleast one of the presence of a pulse, lack of a pulse or an irregularpulse.
 15. The smart card reader of claim 10, wherein the at least onebiometric device comprises two fingerprint scanners disposed on opposingsides of the smart card reader.
 16. The smart card reader of claim 15,further comprising two pulse sensors, with each pulse sensor associatedwith one of the two fingerprint scanners.
 17. The smart card reader ofclaim 16, wherein said fingerprint scanners operate to obtainfingerprint samples from the holders of the first and second smartcards, and compare said fingerprint samples to fingerprint data storedon the first and second smart cards, and wherein the two pulse sensorsoperate to monitor the pulse of the holders of the first and secondsmart cards, and detect at least one of the presence of a pulse, lack ofa pulse or an irregular pulse.
 18. The smart card reader of claim 14,wherein if the fingerprint sample matches the fingerprint data, theidentity of holder of the first smart card is verified.
 19. The smartcard reader of claim 17, wherein if the fingerprint samples match thefingerprint data, the identities of the holders of the first and secondsmart cards are verified.
 20. A smart card reader comprising: at leastone input port for receiving a smart card; and a screen for displayinginformation regarding data stored on the smart card.
 21. The smart cardreader of claim 20 further comprising at least one biometric reader forverifying the identity of a user.
 22. The smart card reader of claim 21further comprising at least one pulse sensor associated with the atleast one biometric reader.
 23. The smart card reader of claim 22further comprising a second input port for receiving a second smartcard.
 24. The smart card reader of claim 23 further comprising a secondbiometric reader for verifying the identity of a second user and asecond pulse sensor associated with the second biometric reader.
 25. Asmart card reader comprising: at least one input port for receiving asmart card; and at least one biometric reader for verifying the identityof a user.
 26. The smart card reader of claim 25 further comprising atleast one pulse sensor to detect at least one of the presence of apulse, lack of a pulse or an irregular pulse.
 27. The smart card readerof claim 25 further comprising a screen for displaying informationregarding data stored on the smart card.
 28. The smart card reader ofclaim 25 further comprising a second input port for receiving a secondsmart card.
 29. The smart card reader of claim 28 further comprising asecond biometric reader for verifying the identity of a second user. 30.The smart card reader of claim 29 further comprising two pulse sensors,with each one of the pulse sensors associated with one of the twobiometric readers.
 31. A smart card reader adapted for a transactioncomprising: at least one input port for receiving a smart card; at leastone biometric reader for verifying the identity of a user; and at leastone pulse sensor to detect at least one of the presence of a pulse, lackof a pulse or an irregular pulse of a user; wherein biometricinformation read by the at least one biometric reader is comparedagainst stored user biometric information to verify the identity of theuser; wherein the smart card reader identifies the occurrence of atleast one of: biometric information of the user read by the at least onebiometric reader does not match any of the stored user biometricinformation; and the at least one pulse sensor does not detect any pulseof the user.
 32. The smart card reader of claim 31, wherein the storeduser biometric information is stored on the smart card.
 33. The smartcard reader of claim 31 further comprising a screen for displayinginformation regarding data stored on the smart card.
 34. The smart cardreader of claim 31 further comprising a second input port for receivinga second smart card.
 35. The smart card reader of claim 34 furthercomprising a second biometric reader for verifying the identity of asecond user and a second pulse sensor associated with the secondbiometric reader to detect at least one of the presence of a pulse, lackof a pulse or an irregular pulse of a user.
 36. The smart card reader ofclaim 31, wherein the smart card reader terminates a transaction onoccurrence of at least one of: biometric information of the user read bythe at least one biometric reader does not match any of the stored userbiometric information; and the at least one pulse sensor does not detectany pulse of the user.